Improved lacing for shoes



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N. PETERS, PHOTO-LITHUGRAFXER. WASHINGTDN. D C.

. clasps, c, slide.

RUFUS WRIGHT, OF BROOKLYN, NEW' YORK.

Lenen Patent No'. 102,352, dated Apre 26, 1870.

IMPROVED LACING FOR SHOES.

The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making partof the same.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ,RUFUS WRIGHT, of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings andState of' New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Shoe-Lace;

'and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable others skilled in the art to make and use the same, reference being had' to the accompanying drawings forming partof this specification.

My inventionl relates to that class of shoe-lacingsin y whichthe important or distinguishing feature consists of metal clasps sliding on ways formed on the edges of the quarters; and

The improvement consists in the arrangement of parts whereby the lacing presents ysubstantially the appearance ofthe lacing of ordinary shoes 5 is little liable to cause pain to the feet of the wearer by undue pressure at any or separate points, and is adapted to be operated in such a manner that the quarters of 'the shoe maybe drawn apartwith slight adjustment of the clasps-,all as hereinafter set forth.

- I n the accompanyingdrawings- Figure 1 represents a top view of ashoe provided with my improved lacing. v

Figure 2 isa maguiiied cross-section of iig.` 1, on the line a: rv.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

al is a strip of metal or other suitable material, which is made fast to the front of the quarter of the shoe on each side of the opening. These strips' may bernade of metal, whalebone, leather, or 'of any suitable material; they form ways on which a series of These clasps 'are made of metal, or of other suitable material.

The ends hook under the ways a, and they are confined in a double tape, d, so that they are made vto slide up and down on the ways a when the tape is drawn in either direction.

Attached to the upper ends of the tapes d, on either side, and connected together at their lower ends by the cord e, are other tapes f, which'move on 'top of the' ways a beneath the double tapes d.

.g represents the lacing-cord, which passes through loops in the clasps, crossing from one side to the other as seen in the drawing, so that, when the ends of the cord are .drawn upward, the sides or flaps of the shoe are drawn together, as seen in g. 1.

The ends of the cord are fastened to the ends of 'Iatent v The shoe-lacing herein described, consisting ofthe 'thedouble tape d, as represented. In this condition the shoe is fastened,-all the clasps being drawn up and the cord tightened.

When in this position the loops'h h may be fastened by buttons, a spring clasp, or in any other suitable manner.' l Now, it willv be seen that in drawing down upon the cord e, (the fastening cord g and tapes andclasp being in the position seen in the drawing) the clasps with the tapes 'and fastening-cord will slide down on the ways suiiiciently 'far to loosen the shoe, and allow the foot to be withdrawn. j

In tightening the shoe upon the foot the tapes d are drawn upward first, which brings thc clasps into the position seen in tig. v1, after which a pull is given more directly'on the. cords g g, which serve to draw the clasps `toward each other and tighten the shoe..

The advantage ofv this arrangement, especially. in

long lacings, (as, for' instance, ladies and childrens boots,) must be obvious to all.

Itwillalso be seen that,- by drawing the clasps. `downwardto or near the middle of the ways a, the Ycrossed cord will be slackened sufiicieutly to allow the quarters to he separated to permit theinsertionoi' the foot.

Anotherl and much greater advantage consistsin the adaptability of the crossed oord to be tightened to just the required degree ito. suit the condition or size ofthe feet.

I am Aaware of other inventions inthis class, in which metal clasps are provided, which slide on round ribs or ways formed at the edge of the quarters, but my invention does not pertain to that construction. j v

Having thus described vmy invention,

I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters metal strips or ways a attached to the upper surface of thequarters, the clasps c, the double tapes d, the tapes f connected by the cord c, andthe lacing-cord g, arranged to connect said elaspsin themannerspeciied, all operating as set forth.

The above specicationof my invention signed by me this 4th.day of Jannary,1 870. -Y

` A I RUFUS WRIGHT.

Witnesses:

GEO. .W. MABEE,

ALEX. F. ROBERTS. 

